eturn to us, thy friends will rejoice, and not one of
them will be more joyful than Susannah Temple. Fare thee well, Japhet,
mayst thou prove superior to temptation. I will pray for thee--earnestly
I will pray for thee, Japhet," continued Susannah, with a quivering of
her lips and broken voice, and she left the room.

Chapter LXX

I return to London, and meet with Mr Masterton.

I went upstairs, and found that all was ready, and I took leave of Mr
and Mrs Cophagus, both of whom expressed their hopes that I would not
leave them for ever. "Oh, no," replied I, "I should indeed be base, if I
did." I left them, and with Ephraim following with my portmanteau, I
quitted the house. I had gone about twenty yards, when I recollected that
I had left on the table the newspaper with the advertisement containing
the direction whom to apply to, and desiring Ephraim to proceed, I
returned. When I entered the parlour, Susannah Temple was resting her
face in her hands and weeping. The opening of the door made her start
up; she perceived that it was I, and she turned away. "I beg your pardon,
I left the newspaper," said I, stammering. I was about to throw myself
at her feet, declare my sincere affection, and give up all idea of
finding my father until we were married, when she, without saying a
word, passed quickly by me and hastened out of the room. "She loves me
then," thought I; "thank God:--I will not go yet, I will speak to her
first." I sat down, quite overpowered with contending feelings. The
paper was in my hand, the paragraph was again read, I thought but
of my father, and I left the house.

In half an hour I had shaken hands with Timothy and quitted the town of
Reading. How I arrived in London, that is to say, what passed, or what we
passed, I know not; my mind was in such a state of excitement. I hardly
know how to express the state that I was in. It was a sort of mental
whirling which blinded me--round and round--from my father and the
expected meeting, then to Susannah, my departure, and her tears--castle
building of every description. After the coach stopped, there I remained
fixed on the top of it, not aware that we were in London until the
coachman asked me whether the spirit did not move me to get down. I
recollected myself, and calling a hackney-coach, gave orders to be
driven to the Piazza, Covent Garden.

"Piazza, Common Garden," said the waterman, "why that ban't an 'otel
for the like o' you, master.